Product Manager - HVAC Airside Products

As a global pioneer in oil-free centrifugal chiller technology with an expanding portfolio of thermal management solutions, Smardt is dedicated to delivering high-efficiency and energy-saving systems for industries, real estate developments, health care and educational centers worldwide. We operate manufacturing facilities in the US, Canada, Germany, China, and Australia, with a team of over 900 employees. With a focus on reliability, performance, and environmental stewardship, Smardt continues to redefine industry standards through advanced engineering and a commitment to a more sustainable future.

What We're Looking For:

The Product Manager – HVAC Airside Products is responsible for SMARDT is seeking a seasoned Product Manager to lead its HVAC airside and air-handling product portfolio across The Americas. This role carries responsibility to the global ownership of assigned product lines, including strategy, roadmap, pricing, positioning, and lifecycle performance.

The Product Manager is the recognized technical and commercial authority for the product family and serves as the central integrator between regional business units, engineering, manufacturing, sales, and marketing. Success in this role is measured by market share growth, margin performance, specification wins, and long-term portfolio relevance, not just execution of tasks.

This is a senior, outcomes-driven role designed for product leaders who understand both engineering depth and commercial reality.

What You'll Do:

General Product Management

Own P&L performance for the assigned product line, including revenue, margin, cost, and market share

Track and report KPIs across regions, identifying trends, gaps, and corrective actions

Drive cost-reduction initiatives in collaboration with engineering, sourcing, and manufacturing

Support preparation of timely and accurate financial plans and forecasts for business planning. Identify major deviations between actual and plan and recommend corrective actions.

Maintain tracking of our products and competitors’ products success within assigned product line globally (detailed by region) and identify opportunities and gaps.

 2. Sales & Customer Interface

Act as senior technical and product escalation point for complex applications and strategic opportunities

Support regional sales leaders, manufacturer representatives, and key customers as needed

Develop and maintain product content, training materials, and sales tools

Represent assigned product lines across global commercial business units

Support major customer engagements, industry forums, and strategic pursuits

Develop written guide specification documents for the SAE

 3. Marketing

Define and maintain product positioning and messaging aligned with Smardt’s strategy

Ensure consistent internal and external communication across the Americas

Support product launches, transitions, and end-of-life planning

Partner with marketing to develop high-impact technical and commercial collateral

Support regional training initiatives

Maintain deep, region-specific understanding of customer needs, regulatory requirements, and competitive offerings

Lead competitive benchmarking and positioning analysis

Identify white-space opportunities, product gaps, and emerging market requirements

Anticipate competitive responses and proactively adjust roadmap and positioning

4. Product & Strategy Roadmap

Partner with Research and Development engineers to ensure the product roadmap is driven by market intelligence, voice-of-the-customer and requirement specifications.

Define product extensions, options, platform evolutions, and lifecycle phase-in / phase-out strategies

Lead cross-functional alignment to deliver roadmap initiatives on time, on cost, and on target performance

Identify and develop new business opportunities within the assigned product segment

Own core product documentation including business cases, competitive analysis, and value propositions

Ensure development programs meet technical, commercial, and schedule objectives

Serve as the bridge between engineering execution and market success

 5. Pricing & Costing

Lead market-based pricing strategy in coordination with regional leaders

Establish target cost models and margin objectives for new product development

Ensure pricing and selection tools remain accurate, competitive, and aligned with current cost structures

Support initiatives to improve product competitiveness and profitability

 6. Business Planning & Competitive Analysis

Capturing market product needs by collaborating with the Regional Managers (as well as direct engagement with customers and sales when appropriate) to develop product requirements for product extensions, enhancements, options, or new product developments.

Assemble competitive benchmarking and position needed to complete requirements for product development projects.

Support development and management of key documents; VSR, competitive analysis, and business plans

Manage or play a key role in leading the product development projects to meet critical dates and the requirements of the product development process.

 7. Direct Field Support / Application Engineering

Coordinate with applications and design engineering on complex or high-impact special requests

Track special quote activity to identify recurring needs and product improvement opportunities

Guide prioritization of engineering resources based on strategic value and return

After sales technical support when needed

What You'll Bring:

Experience

Minimum 7+ years of experience in the HVAC industry, with strong exposure to Air Handling Units (AHUs)

Proven experience in product management, program management, technical marketing, or commercial sales within HVAC or mechanical systems

Experience working in cross-functional environments (Engineering, Sales, Operations, Service)

Strong understanding of BAS (Building Automation Systems) and integration with HVAC systems

Education & Certifications

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or a related field required

MBA strongly preferred

Relevant HVAC or industry certifications (ASHRAE, LEED, etc.) considered an asset

Technical Skills

Strong technical knowledge of:

Air Handling Unit design, application, and performance optimization

HVAC systems integration and controls (BAS)

Ability to translate customer requirements into technical-commercial solutions

Proficiency in:

Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)

Power BI for data analysis and reporting

Familiarity with ERP/CRM systems and product lifecycle tools

Ability to balance technical complexity with commercial objectives

Qualifications

Demonstrated ability to lead product strategy and lifecycle management

Strong business acumen with experience in:

Pricing strategy

Market positioning

Competitive analysis

Ability to create tools and processes that enable:

Faster decision-making

Seamless interaction between technical and commercial teams

Strong communication skills with the ability to influence both technical and executive stakeholders

Willingness to travel 20–30%

Core Competencies

Strategic Thinking & Product Vision – Ability to define and execute product roadmaps aligned with market needs

Technical & Commercial Integration – Bridges engineering depth with revenue impact

Cross-Functional Leadership – Influences across Sales, Engineering, and Operations without direct authority

Customer-Centric Mindset – Deep understanding of customer use cases, especially in complex environments (e.g., data centers, industrial applications)

Execution & Accountability – Drives initiatives from concept to market with measurable impact

Innovation & Continuous Improvement – Introduces scalable tools and processes to improve efficiency and competitiveness

What We Offer: 

Competitive compensation.

Health, Vision, Dental, STD, LTD and Life insurance, from day one.

401K, matching up to 6%

A collaborative global environment with opportunities for growth.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Smardt is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace where all individuals are treated with dignity and respect. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

As part of our hiring process, Smardt conducts background checks in compliance with applicable laws.

Please note that Smardt does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed Services Agreement with agency/recruiter, we will not consider or agree to payment of any referral compensation or recruiter fee.